Marathon vs. Triathlon
Spontaneous Ponderings
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This article was inspired by My Reasons to Believe.
The Bible talks about the Christian life as a race. Here are some example verses:
2 Timothy 4:7: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Hebrews 12:1: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27: 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Isaiah 40:31: but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
When I read these verses, I always picture a marathon. But what if life is more like a triathlon? In a marathon, it’s the same thing mile after mile. You need one skill—running. But with a triathlon, you need different skills at different times—swimming, biking, and running. People often prefer one over the others, or they are strong in one and weaker in the others. For me, running is my comfort zone, and I struggle more with swimming and biking. But hidden behind all those skills is the need for strength training, which helps and supports all the other skills.
Life is like a triathlon—it constantly changes, and you have to adapt, using the right skill at the right time. In our faith, we also need different “skills.” Some days we need patience. Some days we need self-control. Some days, we are stretched to the limit to be kind to those around us. Galatians 5:22-23 lists some of these skills:
Galatians 5:22-23: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Through the Holy Spirit, we are training and improving in each of these skills as we go throughout life. We might be stronger in some skills than others, or better at some skills on some days than others, and we have those that we continually struggle with.
But behind all of these skills are the hidden skills—the disciplines that help and support all of them. Things like Bible reading, prayer, fasting, meditation, fellowship, service. Just like casual runners and other athletes sometimes forget about strength training, it’s easy to forget about these foundational practices that support the Christian faith.
But you know who doesn’t forget about strength training? The professional runners and athletes. Those who want to excel in their sport. If you want to excel in your faith, to truly live a life that is pleasing to God, then you can’t forget about the hidden but foundational practices that keep you connected to God. We might go through phases where we focus on one over the others, or we might practice one more than the others, but all are needed.
Which of the hidden practices of faith are your comfort zone? What stretches you? Where do you need to improve? What hidden practice might you not be paying attention to that would help you for the whole race of life? Maybe you need to start a daily Bible reading habit. Maybe you need to improve your prayer life. Maybe you want to try something new, like fasting or meditation. Maybe you need to get re-connected to a church family. Whatever it is, try practicing it today. Start thinking of ways to incorporate that into your life each day. Your faith and your life will be stronger if you do.